Making a will "has never been more important"

Low awareness of the implications of dying without making a will is putting millions of families at risk of probate and estate administration difficulties in the event of the death of a loved one, it has been suggested.

Karen Barrett, chief executive of unbiased.co.uk, admits it can be difficult to consider such topics, but insists: "The nation is gripped by ‘wills apathy’, leaving a large proportion of spouses, partners and children unprotected should anything happen to a partner or parent."

Making a will is one of the best ways to ensure loved ones benefit as intended, with today's increasingly complex familial structures meaning asset division may not operate as people assume.

Dying intestate can also mean inheritance tax must be paid before assets are released, potentially resulting in the need for costly loans and likely to add strain and worry at an already difficult time.

The Guardian recently reported poor advice could lead to individuals paying unexpected inheritance tax, as some have been wrongly told levies will be paid on the value of the commodity when it was bought, rather than at today's prices.